sweet tears

at the point where night bids farewell she raises her head, crowned by a pallu of sizzling red, gold a slender mangalsutra enhances her slightly inverted neck

the strongest of henna the darkest of kohl the boldest of kumkum a piercing flame from the nath

as ittar fades into memories of a thousand jasmine buds crushed in vain

with the gentlest demeanor she did but bide her time

sweet were her tears what could she do? he swindled even the salt from her life

***

pallu – the trailing end of a sari, red and gold are bridal colours

mangalsutra – auspicious necklace of black beads and gold worn by a Hindu woman after her wedding
kumkum – red/vermilion powder used for bindi on the forehead and/or applied in the parting of a married woman’s hair
nath – referring to the nose ring worn by a bride
ittar – perfume made from flower petals

***

It is International Women’s Day and this poem is a (spontaneous) dedication to all the women who understand the crushing of hopes, but never in vain.

***

This poem was inspired by @temporal3‘s prompt on Twitter provided by @omerwahaj
Crane
Crane
Crane
(Raised up by a Crane
Crown of the Crane
Craned her neck)